Authorizing devices based on identifying content distributor

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems to authorize devices and/or perform other actions based on identifying content distributors are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems access video content playing at a client device, calculate fingerprints of a portion of the video content, identify a distributor of the video content based on the fingerprints, and perform an action in response to the identification of the distributor of the video content, such as actions to authorize the client device or other associated devices (e.g., second screens) to receive content from the distributor, actions to present sponsored content to the client device or associated devices, and so on.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/749,524, filed on Jan. 7, 2013, entitled AUTHORIZING DEVICESBASED ON IDENTIFYING CONTENT DISTRIBUTOR, which is hereby incorporatedby reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to the processingof data. Specifically, the present disclosure addresses systems andmethods for authorizing devices based on identifying contentdistributors.

BACKGROUND

Typically, people consume multimedia content (e.g., audio or videocontent), such as television shows, advertisements, movies, video clips,and so on, via devices that receive a transmission from a contentsource. For example, a content distributor (e.g., a cable televisionprovider, Internet, or direct-to-home satellite system) receives contentfrom a broadcaster or content provider (e.g., HBO® or CNN®), a webserver (e.g., YouTube®), a peer-to-peer source (e.g., another device),and so on, and streams or otherwise transmits audio and/or video contentto various devices capable of presenting the content, such astelevisions and associated set-top boxes, satellite receivers, computingand/or mobile devices and associated media players or browsers, and soon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation inthe figures of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a network diagram illustrating a network environment suitablefor authorizing devices based on identifying content distributors,according to some example embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components of a deviceauthorization system, according to some example embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method for performingan action based on identifying a content distributor using fingerprintsof video content, according to some example embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method for performingan action based on identifying a content distributor using time delayinformation, according to some example embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating components of a machine,according to some example embodiments, able to read instructions from amachine-readable medium and perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

Example methods and systems for authorizing devices and/or performingother actions based on identifying content distributors are described.In some example embodiments, the methods and systems access video oraudio content playing at a client device, calculate fingerprints of aportion of the video or audio content, identify a distributor of thevideo content based on the fingerprints, and perform an action inresponse to the identification of the distributor of the video content,such as actions to authorize the client device or other devices (e.g.,second screens) associated with the user of the client device to receivecontent from the distributor, or other source, actions to presentsponsored content to the client device or associated devices, and so on.

In some example embodiments, the methods and systems identify adistributor and/or a set or class of distributors, based on determininga time delay associated with a distributor providing video content to aclient device, such as time delay between transmission of a frame ofvideo from a distributor and presentation of the same frame of video ata client device, and perform actions in response to the identificationof the distributor and/or the set or class of distributors.

The example methods and systems may, therefore, enable contentdistributors to authorize and/or authenticate users and their associateddevices to receive content from the distributor, without requiring theusers to provide access credentials or other information, among otherthings. Thus, the methods and systems may automatically authorize and/orauthenticate devices (e.g., first screens, second screens, or furtherscreens) to receive content from a distributor by identifying thedistributor providing the content via various techniques.

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding ofexample embodiments. It will be evident to one skilled in the art,however, that the present subject matter may be practiced without thesespecific details.

Example Network Environment

FIG. 1 is a network diagram illustrating a network environment suitablefor authorizing devices based on identifying content distributors,according to some example embodiments.

The network environment 100 may include a content source 105 (e.g., abroadcaster, network, a website, and so on), that provides multimediacontent, such as video content, to one or more distributors, such asmultichannel distributor 120 (e.g., a cable provider), multichanneldistributor 122 (e.g., a satellite provider), and/or other distributors124 (e.g., web-based providers). Example distributors may includenational or local cable television systems, direct broadcast satellitesystems, wireline video providers, over-the-top (OTT) providers, localbroadcasters, and so on, including various combinations thereof.

One or more client devices, such as a primary device or first screendevice 140 and/or a secondary device or second screen 142, may receivethe video content that originates from the content source 105 via themultichannel distributors 120, 122, or the other distributors 124. Forexample, the client devices 130, 142 may receive content from themultichannel distributor 120 via a broadcast channel (e.g., a cablechannel or satellite connection) and/or over a network 130 such as theInternet. The network 130 may be any network that enables communicationbetween devices and/or distributors 120, 122, 124, such as a wirednetwork, a wireless network (e.g., a mobile network), and so on. Thenetwork 130 may include one or more portions that constitute a privatenetwork (e.g., a cable television network or a satellite televisionnetwork), a public network (e.g., over-the-air broadcast channels or theInternet), and so on.

The client devices 140, 142 may include televisions, set-top boxes,laptops and other personal computers, tablets and other mobile devices(e.g., smart phones), gaming devices, and other devices capable ofreceiving and presenting a stream of video and/or other multimediacontent. In some example embodiments, the client devices 140, 142 mayinclude a tuner configured to receive a stream of video content and playthe stream of video content by processing the stream and outputtinginformation (e.g., digital or analog) usable by a display of the clientdevices 140, 142 to present the video content to a user associated withthe client devices 140, 142. The client devices 140, 142 may alsoinclude a display or other user interface configured to display theprocessed stream of video content. The display may be a flat-panelscreen, a plasma screen, a light emitting diode (LED) screen, a cathoderay tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a projector, and so on.

The client devices 140, 142 may be associated in a number of ways. Forexample, they may be associated with a single or similar subscriber,they may be located on the same network, such as network 130, they maybe at the same location, and so on.

One or more watching stations 125 may be located at the content source105 and/or the distributors 120, 122, 124. A watching station 125 mayreceive video and other multimedia content from a content source 105 ora distributor, such as a broadcaster, web server, and so on, and includevarious systems configured to identify content being transmitted,received, and/or broadcast by the content source 105 and/or thedistributors 120, 122, 124. For example, the watching stations 125 mayinclude a reference fingerprint generator (e.g., a component thatcalculates a hash value from a portion of video content) that isconfigured to generate reference fingerprints or other identifies ofreceived video content and/or a timing system that is configured tomeasure and/or track a time at which content (e.g., one or more framesof content) is transmitted and/or received, among other things.

The client devices, such as client device 140, may include a queryfingerprint generator 145 that is configured to capture and/or generatequery fingerprints of a frame or block of frames of video content, suchas video content playing at the client device 140.

In some example embodiments, a device authorization system 150communicates with the watching stations 125 and the client devices 140,142 over the network 130. The device authorization system 150 mayinclude components configured to perform various actions, such asauthorize and/or authenticate the client devices 140, 142 to receivecertain content, based on identifying the distributor 120, 122, 124 thatis providing content to the client device 140. For example, the deviceauthorization system 150 may include components configured to query adatabase of known reference fingerprints, such as fingerprints generatedby the watching stations 125, in order to identify the distributor ofthe video content and/or the source of the video content, among otherthings.

For example, the device authorization system 150 may comparefingerprints captured by the client device 140 to fingerprints capturedat various watching stations 125, and determine that the client device140 is currently receiving video content from multichannel distributor120, which is a specific cable television provider. Based on theidentification, the device authorization system 150 authorize the clientdevice 140 to receive additional content from the specific cableprovider, and authorizes second client device 142, which is associatedwith the client device 140, to stream video content from themultichannel provider 120, among other things.

Any of the machines, databases, or devices shown in FIG. 1 may beimplemented in a general-purpose computer modified (e.g., configured orprogrammed) by software to be a special-purpose computer to perform thefunctions described herein for that machine. For example, a computersystem able to implement any one or more of the methodologies describedherein is discussed below with respect to FIG. 5. As used herein, a“database” is a data storage resource and may store data structured as atext file, a table, a spreadsheet, a relational database, a triplestore, or any suitable combination thereof. Moreover, any two or more ofthe machines illustrated in FIG. 1 may be combined into a singlemachine, and the functions described herein for any single machine maybe subdivided among multiple machines.

Furthermore, any of the modules, systems, and/or generators may belocated at any of the machines, databases, or devices shown in theFIG. 1. For example, the device authorization system 150 may include thequery fingerprint generator 145, receive frames of video content fromthe client device 140, and identify the distributor of content based onthe received frames of content. As another example, the client device140 may include and/or incorporate some or all components of the deviceauthorization system 150, among other things.

Examples of Performing Actions Based in Identifying Content Distributors

As described herein, in some example embodiments, the systems andmethods described herein perform actions in response identifying contentdistributors, such as authorizing devices to receive content based onidentifying distributors of the content using video fingerprintmatching, time delay matching, and/or other identification techniques.FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components of the deviceauthorization system 150, according to some example embodiments. Thedevice authorization system 150 may include various modules and/orcomponents, such as a fingerprint module 210, an identification module220, an action module 230, a device location module 240, and a timedelay module 250.

One or more of the modules described herein may be implemented usinghardware (e.g., a processor of a machine) or a combination of hardwareand software. Moreover, any two or more of these modules may be combinedinto a single module, and the functions described herein for a singlemodule may be subdivided among multiple modules.

In some example embodiments, the fingerprint module 210 is configuredand/or programmed to access, determine, and/or calculate one or morefingerprints of video content playing at a client device. For example,the fingerprint module 210 may capture one or more fingerprints of oneor more frames of video content displayed or otherwise presented by theclient device 140. The captured fingerprints may be of an entire frameof content, a portion of a frame of content, and so on.

In some example embodiments, the identification module 220 is configuredand/or programmed to identify a distributor of the video content basedon the one or more captured fingerprints. For example, theidentification module 220 may compare fingerprints captured at theclient device 140 to fingerprints captured by watching stations 125 atvarious distributors (e.g., multichannel distributors 120, 122 and otherdistributor 124), and identify the distributor based on matching thefingerprint captured at the client device 140 to a fingerprint capturedby a watching station 125 associated with one of the distributors 120,122, 124.

In some cases, many different distributors may transmit similar types ofvideo content at the same time, such as live broadcast programming(e.g., live sporting events, scheduled television programming, livesteaming events, and so on). For example, a cable provider may provide alive football game to its subscribers at the same time a satelliteprovider provides the same live football game its subscribers, or twodifferent local affiliates of a network may present the same program atthe same time to client devices 120 at different locations.

Therefore, the identification module 220 may capture and/or utilize, forcomparison and/or identification purposes, fingerprints of frames ofdisplayed content that may be unique to the specific distributor (e.g.,the specific entity providing content to the client device 120) of thevideo content. Example displayed content that may be unique to adistributor may include the advertisements and/or sponsored contentshown during the presentation of video content, a logo or otheridentifier displayed along with (e.g., via an overlay layer) presentedvideo content, a displayed channel guide or other set-top boxinteractive content that is provided by the distributor (e.g., thespecific display of channel or volume controls), and so on.

Thus, in some example embodiments, the identification module 220 mayidentify an advertisement provided by a distributor and displayed withinthe video content by matching the one or more captured fingerprints toone or more reference fingerprints associated with the advertisementthat are captured from video content playing at a watching stationassociated with the distributor. Alternatively, the identificationmodule 220 may identify a distributor of the video content based on oneor more captured fingerprints including a logo or other informationbeing displayed with the video content that is associated with thedistributor.

In some example embodiments, the action module 230 is configured and/orprogrammed to perform an action in response to the identification of thedistributor of the video content. The action module 230 may authorize orauthenticate the client device 140 or the second client device 142,which is associated with the client device 140, to receive video contentfrom the identified distributor of the video content.

For example, the action module 230, in response to identifying thedistributor providing video content to the client device 140, maytransmit information identifying the client device 140 or second clientdevice 142 to one or more application programmed interfaces (APIs)associated with authorizing devices to receive content from theidentified distributor. Thus, the action module 230 may enable theclient device 140 to receive additional content from the distributor,such as content that supplements or enhances video content currentlyplaying via the client device 140, and/or may enable the second clientdevice 142 to receive additional content from the distributor, such ascontent that supplements or enhances video content currently playing viathe client device 140, among other things.

In some example embodiments, the action module 230 may perform an actionthat enables second client device 142 to receive a temporary and/orlimited authorization to receive content from an identified distributor.For example, in response to identifying the distributor 122 as providingvideo content to the client device 140, the action module 230 mayauthorize the client device 140 to receive video content from thedistributor 122 without time restrictions, but authorize the secondclient device 142 to only access video content from the distributorwithin a following 24 hour period, among other things.

The action module 230 may perform other actions in response toidentifying the distributor of the video content at the client device140. For example the action module 230 may perform an action thatpresents a specific advertisement or other sponsored content to theclient device 140, an action that presents specific information alongwith displayed content, and so on.

In some example embodiments, the device location module 240 isconfigured and/or programmed to identify a location of the client device140, such as based on receiving information associated with the clientdevice that identifies a location of the client device. Theidentification module 220 may utilize the identification of the clientdevice 140 to identify the distributor based on a captured fingerprintand based on the information identifying the location of the clientdevice 140.

For example, the device location module 240 may identify the location ofthe client device 240 based on network information, geolocationinformation (e.g., GPS information) provided by the device, subscriberinformation, and so on. The identification module 220 may utilize suchinformation in order to identify a specific location associated with thedistributors 120, 122, 124. For example, using the location information,the action module 230 may be able to perform location-based actions thatare associated with the identified distributor and the identifiedlocation of the client device 140, such as location-basedadvertisements, location-based content access and authentication (e.g.,regional sports programming), and so on. Thus, in some exampleembodiments, the device authorization system 150 may perform one subsetof actions associated with an identified distributor of video contentbased on a location of a client device 140, among other things.

In some example embodiments, the device authorization system 150 mayutilize other characteristics, distinguishing aspects, or informationwhen identifying a specific distributor 120, 122, 124 of video contentplaying at the client device 140. For example, the time delay module 250is configured and/or programmed to determine a time delay between afirst time associated with a transmission of a frame of video contentfrom a content provider 105 to a distributor 120, 122, 124 of the videocontent and a second time associated with a presentation of the frame ofvideo content by the distributor 120, 122, 124 via a client device 140.

In some example embodiments, the time delay module 250 may determine atime at which the distributor 120, 122, 124 receives the frame of videocontent, may determine a time at which the client device 140 presentsthe frame of video content, and calculate the different between thesecond time and first time. The time delay module 250 or theidentification module 220 may compare the determined or calculated timedelay to known time delays associated with the distributors 120, 122,124, and identify the distributor that is associated with a time delaythat matches the calculated time delay.

As described herein, the device authorization system 150 may performvarious methods in order to perform actions in response to identifying adistributor 120, 122, 124 of content playing at the client device 140,among other things. FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an examplemethod 300 for performing an action based on identifying a contentdistributor using fingerprints of video content, according to someexample embodiments. The method 300 may be performed by the deviceauthorization system 150 and, accordingly, is described herein merely byway of reference thereto. It will be appreciated that the method 300 maybe performed on any suitable hardware.

In operation 310, the device authorization system 150 accesses a portionof video content, such as video content playing at the client device140. For example, the fingerprint module 210 accesses a portion ofcontent playing at the client device 140.

In some example embodiments, the device authorization system 150 maydirectly access the portion of video content 150 via the client device140, such as by accessing a cache or data store associated with theportion of video content, among other things. In some exampleembodiments, the device authorization system 150 may access images ofthe portion of video content, such as images taken or captured byimaging components (e.g., cameras) of the client device 140 and/or thesecond client device 142, among other things.

In operation 320, the device authorization system 150 calculates and/orotherwise determines one or more fingerprints of video content playingat a client device. For example the fingerprint module 210 calculateshash values or other identifies of a frame or block of frames of theportion of video content.

In operation 330, the device authorization system 150 identifies adistributor of the video content based on the one or more capturedfingerprints. For example, the identification module 220 identifies aspecific distributor 120, 122, or 124 based on a match of one of thecaptured fingerprints to reference fingerprints captured by watchingstations 125 associated with the distributors 120, 122, 124 of the videocontent. Example distributors that may be identified includemultichannel distributors (cable or satellite content providers),wireline or web-based content providers, OTT providers, and so on.

For example, the device authorization system 150 may identify anadvertisement provided by the distributor 120, 122, 124 and displayed bythe video content by matching the one or more captured fingerprints toone or more reference fingerprints associated with the advertisementthat are captured from video content playing at a watching stationassociated with the distributor.

As another example, the device authorization system 150 may identify adistributor 120, 122, 124 of the video content based on identifying withthe captured fingerprints of one or more frames of the video content alogo or other information displayed with the video content that isassociated with the distributor.

In some example embodiments, the device authorization system 150 mayreceive information identifying a location of the client device (e.g.,network or GPS information) and identify the distributor based oncaptured fingerprints and the received information identifying thelocation of the client device.

In operation 340, the device authorization system 150 performs an actionin response to the identification of the distributor of the videocontent. For example, the action module 230 may perform an actionassociated with the identified distributor 120, 122, or 124 of the videocontent, and, optionally, the identified location of the client device140.

For example, the action module 230 may authorize, or cause to beauthorized, the client device 140 to receive additional video contentfrom the identified distributor 120, 122, or 124 of the video content,and/or may authorize, or cause to be authorized, the second clientdevice 142 associated with the client device to receive video contentfrom the identified distributor 120, 122, or 124 of the video content.

As another example, the action module 230 may perform an actionassociated with displaying sponsored content (such as advertisements,messages, and so on) based on the identified distributor of the videocontent, and/or may perform an action associated with displayingsupplemental content (such as information or metadata associated with acurrently playing program) based on the identified distributor of thevideo content, among other things.

As described herein, in some example embodiments, the deviceauthorization system 150 may utilize certain characteristics associatedwith the distribution of content in order to identify a distributor ofcontent, among other things. FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating anexample method 400 for performing an action based on identifying acontent distributor using time delay information, according to someexample embodiments. The method 400 may be performed by the deviceauthorization system 150 and, accordingly, is described herein merely byway of reference thereto. It will be appreciated that the method 400 maybe performed on any suitable hardware.

In operation 410, the device authorization system determines a timedelay between a first time associated with a transmission of a frame ofvideo content from a content provider to a distributor of the videocontent and a second time associated with a presentation of the frame ofvideo content by the distributor via a client device. For example, thetime delay module 250 may determine a time at which the distributor 120,122, 124 receives the frame of video content, may determine a time atwhich the client device 140 presents the frame of video content, andcalculate the different between the second time and first time.

In operation 420, the device authorization system 150 identifies thedistributor of the video content based on the determined time delay. Forexample, the time delay module 250 or the identification module 220 maycompare the determined or calculated time delay to known time delaysassociated with the distributors 120, 122, 124, and identify thedistributor that is associated with a time delay that matches thecalculated time.

In operation 430, the device authorization system 150 performs an actionin response to the identification of the distributor of the videocontent. For example, the action module 230 may authorize or facilitateauthorization of the client device 140 and/or the second client device142 to access or temporarily access content from the identifieddistributor, among other things.

Thus, in some example embodiments, the device authorization system 150described herein facilitates the automatic authorization of variousdevices (e.g., first or second screens) that are associated with asubscriber of a content distributor to access content provided by thecontent distributor, among other benefits.

For example, the device authorization system 150 may determine that aclient device 140 is currently playing content provided by a specificcable provider, and authorize a second client device 142 associated withthe client device 140 to stream content from the specific cableprovider's online steaming service, among other things.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating components of a machine 500,according to some example embodiments, able to read instructions from amachine-readable medium (e.g., a machine-readable storage medium) andperform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.Specifically, FIG. 5 shows a diagrammatic representation of the machine500 in the example form of a computer system and within whichinstructions 524 (e.g., software) for causing the machine 500 to performany one or more of the methodologies discussed herein may be executed.In alternative embodiments, the machine 500 operates as a standalonedevice or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In anetworked deployment, the machine 500 may operate in the capacity of aserver machine or a client machine in a server-client networkenvironment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed)network environment. The machine 500 may be a server computer, a clientcomputer, a personal computer, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, anetbook, an set top box, a personal digital assistant, a cellulartelephone, a smartphone, a web appliance, a network router, a networkswitch, a network bridge, or any machine capable of executing theinstructions 524 (sequentially or otherwise) that specify actions to betaken by that machine. Further, while only a single machine isillustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include acollection of machines that individually or jointly execute theinstructions 524 to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein.

The machine 500 includes a processor 502 (e.g., a central processingunit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a digital signal processor(DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), aradio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), or any suitable combinationthereof), a main memory 504, and a static memory 506, which areconfigured to communicate with each other via a bus 508. The machine 500may further include a graphics display 510 (e.g., a plasma display panel(PDP), an LED display, an LCD, a projector, or a CRT). The machine 500may also include an alphanumeric input device 512 (e.g., a keyboard), acursor control device 514 (e.g., a mouse, a touchpad, a trackball, ajoystick, a motion sensor, or other pointing instrument), a storage unit516, a signal generation device 518 (e.g., a speaker), and a networkinterface device 520.

The storage unit 516 includes a machine-readable medium 522 on which isstored the instructions 524 (e.g., software) embodying any one or moreof the methodologies or functions described herein. The instructions 524may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the mainmemory 504, within the processor 502 (e.g., within the processor's cachememory), or both, during execution thereof by the machine 500.Accordingly, the main memory 504 and the processor 502 may be consideredas machine-readable media. The instructions 524 may be transmitted orreceived over a network 526 (e.g., network 190) via the networkinterface device 520.

As used herein, the term “memory” refers to a machine-readable mediumable to store data temporarily or permanently and may be taken toinclude, but not be limited to, random-access memory (RAM), read-onlymemory (ROM), buffer memory, flash memory, and cache memory. While themachine-readable medium 522 is shown in an example embodiment to be asingle medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should be taken toinclude a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized ordistributed database, or associated caches and servers) able to storeinstructions (e.g., instructions 524). The term “machine-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable ofstoring instructions (e.g., software) for execution by the machine(e.g., machine 500), such that the instructions, when executed by one ormore processors of the machine (e.g., processor 502), cause the machineto perform any one or more of the methodologies described herein. Theterm “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include,but not be limited to, a data repository in the form of a solid-statememory, an optical medium, a magnetic medium, or any suitablecombination thereof.

Throughout this specification, plural instances may implementcomponents, operations, or structures described as a single instance.Although individual operations of one or more methods are illustratedand described as separate operations, one or more of the individualoperations may be performed concurrently, and nothing requires that theoperations be performed in the order illustrated. Structures andfunctionality presented as separate components in example configurationsmay be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly,structures and functionality presented as a single component may beimplemented as separate components. These and other variations,modifications, additions, and improvements fall within the scope of thesubject matter herein.

Certain embodiments are described herein as including logic or a numberof components, modules, or mechanisms. Modules may constitute eithersoftware modules (e.g., code embodied on a machine-readable medium or ina transmission signal) or hardware modules. A “hardware module” is atangible unit capable of performing certain operations and may beconfigured or arranged in a certain physical manner. In various exampleembodiments, one or more computer systems (e.g., a standalone computersystem, a client computer system, or a server computer system) or one ormore hardware modules of a computer system (e.g., a processor or a groupof processors) may be configured by software (e.g., an application orapplication portion) as a hardware module that operates to performcertain operations as described herein.

In some embodiments, a hardware module may be implemented mechanically,electronically, or any suitable combination thereof. For example, ahardware module may include dedicated circuitry or logic that ispermanently configured to perform certain operations. For example, ahardware module may be a special-purpose processor, such as a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA) or an ASIC. A hardware module may alsoinclude programmable logic or circuitry that is temporarily configuredby software to perform certain operations. For example, a hardwaremodule may include software encompassed within a general-purposeprocessor or other programmable processor. It will be appreciated thatthe decision to implement a hardware module mechanically, in dedicatedand permanently configured circuitry, or in temporarily configuredcircuitry (e.g., configured by software) may be driven by cost and timeconsiderations.

Accordingly, the term “hardware module” should be understood toencompass a tangible entity, be that an entity that is physicallyconstructed, permanently configured (e.g., hardwired), or temporarilyconfigured (e.g., programmed) to operate in a certain manner or toperform certain operations described herein. As used herein,“hardware-implemented module” refers to a hardware module. Consideringembodiments in which hardware modules are temporarily configured (e.g.,programmed), each of the hardware modules need not be configured orinstantiated at any one instance in time. For example, where thehardware modules comprise a general-purpose processor configured bysoftware to become a special-purpose processor, the general-purposeprocessor may be configured as respectively different hardware modulesat different times. Software may accordingly configure a processor, forexample, to constitute a particular hardware module at one instance oftime and to constitute a different hardware module at a differentinstance of time.

Hardware modules can provide information to, and receive informationfrom, other hardware modules. Accordingly, the described hardwaremodules may be regarded as being communicatively coupled. Where multiplehardware modules exist contemporaneously, communications may be achievedthrough signal transmission (e.g., over appropriate circuits and buses)between or among two or more of the hardware modules. In embodiments inwhich multiple hardware modules are configured or instantiated atdifferent times, communications between such hardware modules may beachieved, for example, through the storage and retrieval of informationin memory structures to which the multiple hardware modules have access.For example, one hardware module may perform an operation and store theoutput of that operation in a memory device to which it iscommunicatively coupled. A further hardware module may then, at a latertime, access the memory device to retrieve and process the storedoutput. Hardware modules may also initiate communications with input oroutput devices, and can operate on a resource (e.g., a collection ofinformation).

The various operations of example methods described herein may beperformed, at least partially, by one or more processors that aretemporarily configured (e.g., by software) or permanently configured toperform the relevant operations. Whether temporarily or permanentlyconfigured, such processors may constitute processor-implemented modulesthat operate to perform one or more operations or functions describedherein. As used herein, “processor-implemented module” refers to ahardware module implemented using one or more processors.

Similarly, the methods described herein may be at least partiallyprocessor-implemented, with a processor being an example of hardware.For example, at least some of the operations of a method may beperformed by one or more processors or processor-implemented modules.Moreover, the one or more processors may also operate to supportperformance of the relevant operations in a “cloud computing”environment or as a “software as a service” (SaaS). For example, atleast some of the operations may be performed by a group of computers(as examples of machines including processors), with these operationsbeing accessible via a network (e.g., the Internet) and via one or moreappropriate interfaces (e.g., an application program interface (API)).

The performance of certain of the operations may be distributed amongthe one or more processors, not only residing within a single machine,but deployed across a number of machines. In some example embodiments,the one or more processors or processor-implemented modules may belocated in a single geographic location (e.g., within a homeenvironment, an office environment, or a server farm). In other exampleembodiments, the one or more processors or processor-implemented modulesmay be distributed across a number of geographic locations.

Some portions of this specification are presented in terms of algorithmsor symbolic representations of operations on data stored as bits orbinary digital signals within a machine memory (e.g., a computermemory). These algorithms or symbolic representations are examples oftechniques used by those of ordinary skill in the data processing artsto convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. Asused herein, an “algorithm” is a self-consistent sequence of operationsor similar processing leading to a desired result. In this context,algorithms and operations involve physical manipulation of physicalquantities. Typically, but not necessarily, such quantities may take theform of electrical, magnetic, or optical signals capable of beingstored, accessed, transferred, combined, compared, or otherwisemanipulated by a machine. It is convenient at times, principally forreasons of common usage, to refer to such signals using words such as“data,” “content,” “bits,” “values,” “elements,” “symbols,”“characters,” “terms,” “numbers,” “numerals,” or the like. These words,however, are merely convenient labels and are to be associated withappropriate physical quantities.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, discussions herein using wordssuch as “processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining,”“presenting,” “displaying,” or the like may refer to actions orprocesses of a machine (e.g., a computer) that manipulates or transformsdata represented as physical (e.g., electronic, magnetic, or optical)quantities within one or more memories (e.g., volatile memory,non-volatile memory, or any suitable combination thereof), registers, orother machine components that receive, store, transmit, or displayinformation. Furthermore, unless specifically stated otherwise, theterms “a” or “an” are herein used, as is common in patent documents, toinclude one or more than one instance. Finally, as used herein, theconjunction “or” refers to a non-exclusive “or,” unless specificallystated otherwise.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: accessing multiple videostreams, each video stream being distributed by a different contentdistribution system among multiple content distribution systems, eachvideo stream including same video content provided by a single contentsource to the multiple content distribution systems and includingdifferent distributor-specific content that is unique to thecorresponding content distribution system that distributes the videostream, the multiple video streams being available from the multiplecontent distribution systems to each of a plurality of client devices;for each of the multiple video streams: generating a set of referencefingerprints of the distributor-specific content included within thevideo stream accessed from the corresponding content distributionsystem; and associating the set of reference fingerprints with thecorresponding content distribution system that distributes the videostream; accessing a set of query fingerprints received from a clientdevice among the plurality of client devices, the set of queryfingerprints being calculated from at least a portion of thedistributor-specific content playing at the client device; querying areference database that includes the sets of reference fingerprints toidentify a set of reference fingerprints that corresponds to the set ofquery fingerprints; identifying a content distribution system among themultiple content distribution systems and associated with the set ofreference fingerprints that corresponds to the set of query fingerprintsthereby to identify the content distribution system providing the videostream to the client device; otherwise, identifying a contentdistribution system among the multiple content distribution systems bydetermining a time delay between a first time associated with atransmission of a frame of video content from the single content sourceto the content distribution system and a second time associated with apresentation of the frame of video content by the content distributionsystem via the client device; and performing an action dependent uponthe identifying of the content distribution system providing the videostream to the client device.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theperforming of the action includes authorizing the client device toreceive additional video content from the identified contentdistribution system.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing ofthe action includes authorizing a second client device associated withthe client device to receive the video stream from the identifiedcontent distribution system.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein theperforming of the action includes providing sponsored content that isassociated with the identified content distribution system.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the performing of the action includesproviding supplemental content associated with the video stream to asecond device associated with the client device.
 6. The method of claim1, wherein the video stream playing at the client device includes anadvertisement as the distributor-specific content unique to thecorresponding content distribution system; and the querying of thereference database to identify the set of reference fingerprintsidentifies one or more reference fingerprints of the advertisement. 7.The method of claim 1, wherein the video stream playing at the clientdevice includes a logo of the content distribution system providing thevideo stream to the client device; and the querying of the referencedatabase to identify the set of reference fingerprints identifies one ormore reference fingerprints of the logo.
 8. The method of claim 1,further comprising: receiving information that identifies a location ofthe client device; and wherein the identifying of the contentdistribution system is based on the received information that identifiesthe location of the client device.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein theidentifying of the content distribution system includes identifying amultichannel distributor that receives the video stream from the singlecontent source and provides the video stream to the client device. 10.The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the contentdistribution system includes identifying at least one of a cabletelevision system, a direct broadcast satellite system, or a wirelinevideo provider of the video stream.
 11. The method of claim 1, whereinthe identifying of the content distribution system includes identifyingan over-the-top content provider.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein:the video stream playing at the client device includes an advertisementas the distributor-specific content unique to the corresponding contentdistribution system; and the identification module, in being configuredto query the reference database to identify the set of referencefingerprints, is configured to identify one or more referencefingerprints of the advertisement.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein:the video stream playing at the client device includes a logo of thecontent distribution system providing the video stream to the clientdevice; and the identification module, in being configured to query thereference database to identify the set of reference fingerprints, isconfigured to identify one or more reference fingerprints of the logo.14. The method of claim 1, wherein: the video stream playing at theclient device includes a video frame that is unique to the contentdistribution system providing the video stream to the client device; andthe identification module, in being configured to query the referencedatabase to identify the set of reference fingerprints, is configured toidentify one or more reference fingerprints of the video frame.
 15. Asystem comprising: a set of watching stations each configured to: accessa video stream being distributed by a content distribution system amongmultiple content distribution systems, the video stream including samevideo content provided by a single content source to the multiplecontent distribution systems and including distributor-specific contentthat is unique to the corresponding content distribution system thatdistributes the video stream, the multiple video streams being availablefrom the multiple content distribution systems to each of a plurality ofclient devices; generate a set of reference fingerprints of thedistributor-specific content included within the video stream accessedfrom the corresponding content distribution system; and associate theset of reference fingerprints with the corresponding contentdistribution system that distributes the video stream; an identificationmodule that is configured to: access a set of query fingerprintsreceived from a client device among the plurality of client devices, aset of query fingerprints being calculate from at least a portion of thedistributor specific content playing at the client device; query areference database that includes the sets of reference fingerprints toidentify a set of reference fingerprints that corresponds to the set ofquery fingerprints; identify a content distribution system among themultiple content distribution systems and associated with the set ofreference fingerprints that corresponds to the set of query fingerprintsthereby to identify the content distribution system providing the videostream to the client device; and otherwise, identify a contentdistribution system among the multiple content distribution systems bydetermining a time delay between a first time associated with atransmission of a frame of video content from the single content sourceto the content distribution system and a second time associated with apresentation of the frame of video content by the content distributionsystem via the client device; and an action module that is configured toperform an action dependent upon the identifying of the contentdistribution system providing the video stream to the client device. 16.The system of claim 15, wherein the action module is configured toauthorize a second device associated with the client device to receivethe video content from the identified content distribution system. 17.The system of claim 15, further comprising: a device location modulethat is configured to identify a location of the client device based onreceiving information that identifies a location of the client device;and wherein the identification module is configured to identify thecontent distribution system based on the received information thatidentifies the location of the client device.
 18. A non-transitorymachine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, whenexecuted by one or more processors of a machine, cause the machine toperform operations comprising: accessing multiple video streams, eachvideo stream being distributed by a different content distributionsystem among multiple content distribution systems, each video streamincluding same video content provided by a single content source to themultiple content distribution systems and including differentdistributor-specific content that is unique to the corresponding contentdistribution system that distributes the video stream, the multiplevideo streams being available from the multiple content distributionsystems to each of a plurality of client devices; for each of themultiple video streams: generating a set of reference fingerprints ofthe distributor-specific content included within the video streamaccessed from the corresponding content distribution system; andassociating the set of reference fingerprints with the correspondingcontent distribution system that distributes the video stream; accessinga set of query fingerprints received from a client device among theplurality of client devices, the set of query fingerprints beingcalculated from at least a portion of the distributor-specific contentplaying at the client device; querying a reference database thatincludes the sets of reference fingerprints to identify a set ofreference fingerprints that corresponds to the set of queryfingerprints; identifying a content distribution system among themultiple content distribution systems and associated with the set ofreference fingerprints that corresponds to the set of query fingerprintsthereby to identify the content distribution system providing the videostream to the client device; otherwise, identifying a contentdistribution system among the multiple content distribution systems bydetermining a time delay between a first time associated with atransmission of a frame of video content from the single content sourceto the content distribution system and a second time associated with apresentation of the frame of video content by the content distributionsystem via the client device; and performing an action dependent uponthe identifying of the content distribution system providing the videostream to the client device.